Record Number of Exhibitors Come to Chicago in 2016

McCormick Place in Chicago was 76 million pounds heavier in September after a record 2,407 manufacturing technology exhibitors moved all of their equipment into the convention center’s four halls for IMTS 2016. And that doesn’t include the 115,612 registered visitors, the third largest attendance for the show. That attendance figure beat 2014’s show by nearly 1,500 people.

“IMTS has grown not only in size, but in the overall scope of manufacturing,” says Peter R. Eelman, vice president of exhibitions and business development at AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, which owns and manages IMTS. “There are more compelling reasons for people to attend. Whether they come to research new technology, evaluate vendors before purchasing, find solutions, or connect with the leaders in the manufacturing industry, there is simply no substitute for attending IMTS.”

The real success statistics from the show will come throughout the next year as attendees place orders for new equipment and technology. Anecdotally, several exhibitors say a big difference between the 2014 and 2016 shows was that this year, the people visiting booths weren’t kicking tires. They had specific questions about tool and equipment capabilities and wanted to know how technology providers could help solve specific tasks.